NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A9052
SPONSOR: Durso TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, in
relation to granting certain first responders free use of state parks
and campsites
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Grants certain first responders free use of state parks and camp- sites.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 13.19 of the parks, recreation and
historic preservation law, as amended by chapter 616 of the laws of
2023, is amended to read as follows: 1. Notwithstanding the provisions
of any other law, any person who is: blind, non-ambulatory, or an ampu-
tee (or any); a veteran or member of a Gold Star family; a resident of
New York state who is a retired law enforcement officer, including but
not limited to, persons who were a police officer employed by a county,
city, village, or the state, or a correction officer employed by a coun-
ty, city, or the state; retired from the New York state unified court
system; a resident of New York state who is a retired, paid or volunteer
firefighter, as defined in section two hundred fifteen of the general
municipal law; or a resident of New York state and has retired from
being an enrolled member of a volunteer ambulance service pursuant to
article thirty of the public health law, shall be permitted to use any
of the public campsites, parks and other public places of recreation in
this state, upon the same terms and conditions as apply to the general
public, but without the payment of any fees Or other charges for the use
of such campsites, parks and other public places of recreation.
JUSTIFICATION:
Free park passes for first responders are seen as a way to express grat-
itude for their service and putting their life on the line for our safe-
ty, support their mental and physical health, and align with existing
programs that honor those who serve.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9052
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
September 5, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. DURSO -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development
AN ACT to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, in
relation to granting certain first responders free use of state parks
and campsites
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 13.19 of the parks, recreation and
2 historic preservation law, as amended by chapter 616 of the laws of
3 2023, is amended to read as follows:
4 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, any person who is:
5 blind, non-ambulatory, or an amputee [or any]; a veteran or member of a
6 Gold Star family; a resident of New York state who is a retired law
7 enforcement officer, including but not limited to, persons who were a
8 police officer employed by a county, city, village, or the state, or a
9 correction officer employed by a county, city, or the state; retired
10 from the New York state unified court system; a resident of New York
11 state who is a retired, paid or volunteer firefighter, as defined in
12 section two hundred fifteen of the general municipal law; or a resident
13 of New York state and has retired from being an enrolled member of a
14 volunteer ambulance service pursuant to article thirty of the public
15 health law, shall be permitted to use any of the public campsites, parks
16 and other public places of recreation in this state, upon the same terms
17 and conditions as apply to the general public, but without the payment
18 of any fees or other charges for the use of such campsites, parks and
19 other public places of recreation.
20 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13661-01-5
